Who We Are
The Rocky Mountain Water and Wastewater Plant Operators School is a consortium of professionals from public and private entities partnering with the University of Colorado College of Engineering to provide continuing education to water and wastewater treatment plant operators.
Our Mission
The mission of the Rocky Mountain Water and Wastewater Plant Operators School is to provide continuing education to water and wastewater treatment plant operators to assist them in the professional development needed to deal effectively with changes in treatment and operation methods, regulations and equipment. We want to help you to provide the safest drinking water and best water quality to your communities in an efficient and sustainable manner.
The Fundamentals School is offered annually. The Fundamentals Water course is intended for those new to the field and operators seeking their class “C”, “D”, “TNC (Transient Non-Community Water System)”, and “SWS (Small Water System)" certification. The Fundamentals Wastewater course is intended for those new to the field and those operators seeking class “C”, “D”, and “SWWS (Small Waste Water System)” certification. The School is designed to furnish operators with basic concepts of how treatment processes work and the requirements of government regulations.
The Intermediate and Advanced School is offered annually. It is intended for experienced treatment operators. The intermediate and advanced courses offered at this school are designed to furnish established operators with information needed to better understand treatment processes and to perform their duties in an ever-changing environment. The courses offered at this school include:
- Intermediate Water
- Intermediate Wastewater
- Advanced Water
- Activated Sludge
- Biosolids
- Industrial Wastewater
The Rocky Mountain Water and Wastewater Plant Operators School is NOT affiliated with the Colorado Operator Certification Program Office (OCPO). TUs earned at the schools may be applied toward certification with the Colorado Operator Certification Program Office.
History of School
The Rocky Mountain Water and Wastewater Plant Operators School was founded in 1952. The School was created at the request of the State Boards of Health in Colorado, Wyoming and New Mexico. The first school was held in 1953 in cooperation with the Colorado Department of Health; American Water Works Association, Rocky Mountain Section; Rocky Mountain Water Environmental Association (then known as the Rocky Mountain Sewage Works Association); Colorado Municipal League and the University of Colorado Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering. Dr. Walter Weers assumed the role of Director of the School in 1954. Dr. Weers accepted this position because he recognized the need to provide water and wastewater treatment plant operators with the education necessary to provide clean and safe water quality service to their communities. He still serves on the School Advisory Board today.